What Is the Value of Green Housing?

By Wendy Frost
Public Affairs Specialist

(Sept. 25, 2015) — Do energy efficient designations such as Energy Star homes and features such as double-pane windows and low flow toilets increase the value of a home?

According to Thomas Thomson, the Quincy Lee Distinguished Professor in Real Estate and Finance, and Anjelita Cadena, Ph.D. ’13, assistant professor at the University of North Texas, they do.

The researchers studied 66,000 home sales over a five-year period in San Antonio to evaluate the extent green components add a premium to a house’s selling price. They found that green designations increased selling prices by 1 percent, green features such as drought tolerant plants and irrigation systems increased selling prices by 2 percent and energy efficient features such as Energy Star appliances, windows and HVAC systems raised selling prices by 6 percent.

“We are continuing data collection on this project and have two more recent years of data,” said Thomson, whose work appeared in the Appraisal Journal. “We’ll be looking to see if there is an increasing value to green over time, whether green houses sell faster and if the number of green features increases value.”

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Events

Monday, January 20, 10:00 a.m.

38th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March

All UTSA students, faculty, staff, alumni, and families are invited to march with the UTSA delegation in San Antonio's 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. March. Free transportation will be provided from the Main and Downtown Campuses.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King, Jr., San Antonio, TX

Tuesday, January 21, 8:00 a.m.

Early Bird Breakfast

Join the UTSA Alumni Association for free coffee and breakfast to celebrate the start of the fall semester.

Sombrilla Plaza

Wednesday, January 22, 9:00 a.m.

Coffee, Cocoa, and Wellbeing

Warm up with a hot cup of coffee or a hot chocolate with Wellbeing Services to kick off the start of the Spring Semester! The Wellbeing team will be in the Window Lounge to welcome you to the first day of classes and highlight our events and programs for the semester.

Dreamers Resource Lounge, Main Campus

Wednesday, January 22, 11:00 a.m.

¡HCAP Hola!

Join us in the HCAP Student Success Center for refreshments and get to know your HCAP Ambassadors, Peer Mentors, and staff!

HCAP Student Success Center (MS 2.02.36), Main Campus

Wednesday, January 22, 1:00 p.m.

Klesse College Welcome Back Bash - Spring 2025

Klesse College is excited to welcome back our Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design students! Join us for a fun day full of community, food, and fun events. Food is free for all KCEID Students. Come get your T-shirts and connect with student organizations.

Atrium, Biotechnology, Sciences and Engineering Building, Main Campus

Wednesday, January 22, 2:00 p.m.

Alvarez Student Success Center Open House

Stop by the Alvarez Student Success Center to learn about our services, meet our staff, and grab some goodies! Students can earn Career Compass spirit points by taking a photo with our frame and uploading it to the app.

Alvarez Student Success Center (BB 2.01.08,) Business Building, Main Campus

Thursday, January 23, 11:00 a.m.

Get Involved Fair

Come meet student organizations and learn about different volunteering opportunities at the Spring 2025 Get Involved Fair.

HSU Ballroom (HSU 1.104-1.106,) Main Campus

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Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.